Venu

The venu (Sanskrit: वेणु; veṇu) is a bamboo transverse flute used in the Carnatic music. It is also called by various other names such as pullankuzhal (புல்லாங்குழல்) in Tamil, പുല്ലാങ്കുഴല്‍ in Malayalam, and ಕೊಳಲು (kūḷalu) in Kannada. It is known as pillana grōvi (పిల్లన గ్రోవి) or Vēṇuvu (వేణువు) in Telugu (Andhra Pradesh).

Construction and technique

One of the oldest musical instruments of India, the instrument is a key-less transverse flute made of bamboo. The fingers of both hands are used to close and open the holes. It has a blowing hole near one end, and eight closely placed finger holes. The instrument comes in various sizes. The venu is also a highly respected instrument and those who play it are expected to appreciate it, for it is considered a gift to be able to play it.

The venu is capable of producing two and half octaves with the help of over-blowing and cross fingering. The flute is like the human voice in that it is monophonous and also has a typical two and half octave sound reproduction. Sliding the fingers on and off the holes allows for a great degree of ornamentation, important in the performance of raga-based music.

Venu (cinematographer)

Venu is an Indian cinematographer, film director in Indian Cinema. Venu graduated in cinematography from FTII, Pune. He has won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography three times, in 1987 for Amma Ariyan and Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, in 1993 for Miss Beatty's Children, and in 1994 for Ponthan Mada. He is a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC). His debut directorial venture "Daya" won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director in 1998.

Career

Venu graduated in cinematography from FTII, Pune in 1982. He has worked as cinematographer in over 80 feature films with legendary Indian directors like John Abraham, Mani Kaul, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Pamela Rooks, Padmarajan, Bharathan and M. T. Vasudevan Nair.

He won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 1987 for Amma Ariyan, and Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal), 1994 for (Miss Beatty's Children), and in 1994 for (Ponthan Mada).

In 1998, he did "Daya his first directorial venture, a period fiction written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. The movie was critically acclaimed and he received Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director for the same. In 2014, he directed his second movie Munnariyippu starring Mammootty.

P Venu

P. Venu (Malayalam: പി. വേണു, 8 November 1940 - 25 May 2011) was an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter with over 20 films to his credit. His directorial venture Udhyogastha in 1967 was the first ever multi-starrer film of South India. His work in Malayalam cinema was significant and most influential, covering all themes and genres over a career spanning 40 years. One of his most recognized film C.I.D. Nazir in 1971, revolutionized movie-making in the investigative genre in Malayalam cinema. Following the commercial and critical success of this film, he came up with two more in the series - Taxi Car in 1972 and Prethangalude Thazhvara in 1973, which were recognized as the first investigative sequels in the history of Malayalam cinema. From the late 60s to the 90s he continued to make films and then decided to take a break to devote more time to his family. His last film Parinamam (The Change) in 2003 won an honour for Malayalam cinema, winning the Best Screenplay Award at Ashdod International Film Festival held in Israel. In 2005 he was bestowed with the Kala Prathiba (Icon of Creative Arts) Award by the Kerala Film Critics Association for his immense contributions to Malayalam cinema. He was also an active member of MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians Association). He published his book titled Udyogastha Muthal (meaning ‘From Udyogastha Onwards’) in 2010 reminiscing his life as a filmmaker and his experiences in the film industry.